Physical education is an integral part of the whole picture. Don't put it on the back burner when it comes to academics. In fact, physical activities ﻿may help boost student performance﻿in other areas. Keep this in mind when developing your homeschooled tween's daily schedule and curriculum. This is one of the first things I learned when we started homeschooling years ago. Not only is keeping homeschooled tweens active a good idea for academic purposes, but it also helps encourage a healthy lifestyle overall. It also helps them expend any pent up energy and frustration, which can be a good thing for the whole family.

Exercise with your tween every day. This is extremely important in encouraging an active lifestyle. Whether it's family yoga, nature walks, bike riding, skating, playing basketball in the yard, or a workout routine, the family should include some form of exercise in the daily routine. It's easier for the tween to feel encouraged to participate when it is a part of the normal daily activities. Try to make it happen at around the same time every day. Switch up different activities for a more rounded physical education experience.Get your homeschooled tween involved in athletics. Sports programs are available in most areas. These can be found with private leagues, organizations like the YMCA, and even with area schools. Homeschooled tweens have an advantage in that they can sometimes join either homeschool leagues or those with area schools if permitted. Churches can also have sports and recreational teams and programs. Not all areas will have leagues specifically for homeschoolers. But usually those with neighborhood organizations are all inclusive.Take field trips often. Get out and enjoy your area and those surrounding it. Base the field trips on current lessons, as well as other things. The zoo, library, and museum are some of the obvious destinations. But also try nature reserves, wildlife reservations, railroads, the airport, historical buildings, monuments, and anything else interesting. If you're inventive and open-minded, you can find a field trip destination for every lesson every day if you want to. You may not choose to have daily field trips. But be sure your homeschooled tween does get out often and see the world - or at least the neighborhood.

Enroll your tween in dance classes. Many tweens love to dance. So this is a good way to get your homeschooled tween to enjoy being active. It also provides an extra way to get some social interaction. Even if dance is not really your tween's best talent, the classes may still be enjoyable. Let your tween choose the style. From ballet, to jazz, to modern, to hip-hop and more, any tween who is interested can find their style. If your tween is up to it, let him rotate between various styles for an even more interesting and rounded experience.Encourage stretch breaks in between assignments. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your homeschooled tween active during the day. Make it a routine thing to get up and move around in between lessons. Movements may include dancing, stretching, jumping jacks, or other random actions. As long as your tween gets up and flexes, it's good. Try to make it fun so there isn't any protesting. The actual movement doesn't matter as much as the fact that your tween is not sitting in one place all day long.*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterDecided to homeschool but have a limited to zero budget? That's perfectly fine. You don't have to purchase a fancy curriculum or fancy supplies. Sure, those can be nice, but they're really not necessary for a quality education. All you need is the good old internet, the library, nature, and an open mind. I will show you how to use the above resources to your full advantage. Utilize the Public Library This is a very powerful resource if you take full advantage of all it has to offer. The most obvious resource a library has is the books. There are so many books with so much information in them waiting to be checked out and read. There are regular storybooks, reference books, books on many topics your kids will study, and some libraries even have textbooks. But, what other resources does a library have? All libraries will vary, but they usually have tapes, compact discs, and even VHS and DVD videos. Especially look for National Geographic videos when doing science lessons. You can also find how-to videos at most libraries that will be useful in a variety of different subjects. Another good resource at a library is story-time. Although story-time is listed for younger ages, many elementary-aged children still enjoy it. Who doesn't enjoy listening to and acting out their favorite stories? There are also many free classes and workshops available at the library that can be very useful lessons. Some of the lessons I have seen include pottery making, drawing, American History, Ancient History, all about frogs, reading under the stars, and much more. Just keep the librarians informed of what you are doing and what you need and they will help you. In fact, you will probably become good friends with the librarians because you will find yourself at the library often. Take Advantage of Nature Using nature to learn can be very effective as well as fun and exciting. Taking a simple nature walk can enrich the mind as well as the soul. Any park, zoo, or even your backyard or neighborhood field will do for a nature walk. See how many different animals and insects you can find. If you are studying leaves, collect and examine different types of leaves. Maybe you're studying mammals. See how many mammals your children can find and have them study their habits. Whatever you're studying, be sure to observe it in it's natural state and bring home samples of it wherever possible. Nature holds an unlimited wealth of information. Be sure to use every opportunity nature gives you. Even if you come across something interesting that your child is not studying, it is still beneficial to take advantage of it. Remember that nature does not always act in your favor, so if you see something you may be able to use later, study it as if you are learning about that subject. If you can, film it or at least document it in some other way (take pictures, write down everything, draw pictures, etc...). That way when you learn about it in more depth, you will have it to reference back to. Peruse the InternetThere are many, many websites filled with the information you need. You don't have to be a pro to find it. Sure, it helps, but it isn't necessary. All you need is any search engine. I like to use a variety of search engines, to mix up the results a little. Some of the results will be the same, but some will not. Whatever you're looking for, think of the simplest way to word it and also in a way so you get more results. Say you need an early fluency reading lesson. While early fluency is exactly what you want, sometimes words like this can give you results for items you'll have to pay for. Instead, try typing in "free reading lessons grade 1" or "free reading printables grade 1". Phrases like this produce the exact results you're looking for. However, this can go both ways. Sometimes you do need to be very concise rather than wording it a certain way. Maybe your child is doing a research paper on Mary McLeod Bethune. You would just type in "Mary McLeod Bethune" because you want information on her. When you are just looking for information, type just the subject you're looking for so your info will be aplenty. Another useful way the internet can help you is by networking. You can find lots of other homeschooling moms who are usually more than willing to share their ideas with you. Try searching homeschooling blogs, homeschooling forums, teacher forums, parenting forums, and even popular websites parents use that have their own forums. Keep an open Mind Sometimes life just throws learning opportunities at you. They may not always be the subjects your kids are learning at the time, but regardless, they are still important. Everything you say and do in daily life is a learning lesson. Don't underestimate the power of a grocery trip, a walk, a bike ride, a camping trip, a car ride, a talk during dinner, or any other daily activity. Draw on life to teach your child new and exciting things daily. When your child asks a question, don't ever shrug off any question. No question is too big or too small. If you don't know the answer, look it up on the internet. you don't have to let your child know you don't know the answer. Just say something like, "That's a good question.Let's see what we can find about that." That way you don't sound unintelligent and your child still gets the answer. Joining a homeschool group can also help. If your city doesn't have any, sometimes a city right outside your city can have one that would welcome you and your child. You'll probably learn so much teaching your child that you didn't learn in school. Homeschooling can do that to you. Don't ever discount anything that can help your child learn. Some ideas people give you may seem outlandish at first, but as long as they don't harm anyone, most everything is worth a try. Your outlook on life will probably change a lot once you begin homeschooling. Who knows, you may even start your own homeschooling group. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterWhen you made the choice to homeschool, I bet the first thing on your mind was not the stress. You probably imagined some fairy tale where all the children sat still and listened to you lecture or followed along with everything you said and did. Then, once you got started, you were snapped back into reality. I can't promise you a fairy tale, but I can help you get things running much smoother. When you're fully organized and prepared, each day will be easier. Exact organization layouts will be different for each family, but by reading the following, you should be able to get your schoolwork and homeschool organized easily and effectively.

Plan ahead The first step in organization is figuring out everything you have that will be used during homeschool. Planning ahead will often take off a big slice of stress. Get out a notebook or sheet of paper and take inventory of everything you use for schooling. Individual lists and lengths of lists will vary. Once you have your list, on a separate sheet of paper, group the alike things together. Check them off on your first list as you go. Be sure you are including furniture, craft supplies, and books (no need to list every book; just list them in categories like board books, fiction, non-fiction, simple books (non-chapter), first chapter books, readers, chapter books, etc...). Once you have that done, you are ready for the actual organization part.Create a space for school When homeschooling, if possible, you should have a separate space for school. The space can be an entire room if you have the space (I recommend this) or if your space is limited, you can make the spot in a room it will blend well with (home office, playroom, child's bedroom...). This will eliminate the stress of trying to figure it out each day. Remember that sometimes your children may want to do certain assignments outside or on their beds. This is fine, providing it's an assignment that your child feels comfortable doing at a space other than the desk. Also, sometimes assignments will be done during field trips and other school related outings. The school spot is just the "base", so to speak. This is the spot where the kids will be able to read, write, do crafts, do projects, do experiments, study, and listen to lectures. The area must be comfortable, quiet, easily accessible, have all materials handy, and be kept clean and ready to use. (CONTINUED BELOW)

Choosing furniture If you haven't yet purchased furniture or don't have anything in the house you can use, here is a breakdown of what I suggest. However, keep in mind that all households are different and what works for one person may not be universal. I suggest getting a desk that contains a drawer or compartment for storing basic materials (pens, pencils, stapler, scissors, glue, paper, notebooks, etc...). If you have more than one child, you may choose to use a desk-like table that will seat all the kids and store the supplies in separate drawers for each kid. This is ideal, but don't worry if it's not in your budget. You can always opt for using the kitchen table and keeping all supplies close by. I also suggest using an armoire that has shelves and drawers on the part outside of the doors. You can store craft supplies, messy items, items with small pieces, and items you don't want babies and toddlers to touch inside the doors. You can store the books on the shelves and papers, folders , and other supplies in the drawers. If this won't work for you, then you can also use regular tall bookshelves and a file cabinet. Store the "door items" inside plastic totes on the top shelves. Arrange the books on the lower shelves and store the papers, folders, and supplies in the file cabinet.Scheduling Once you have decided on your space, arranged your furniture accordingly, and put everything away, it's time to organize your daily tasks and schedule. Your schedule should include all the classes your child takes each day, break and snack times, and recess times. Don't forget to include electives and field trips. Sometimes you may stray from the schedule for some unplanned learning activities. But having a general idea of what you are doing can really help avoid stress.

Handy Hints: 1. Tear out and laminate workbook pages and put them in binders for each subject. Arrange the page order according to level. If you make a big one that contains all levels and areas of math, you won't have to purchase any more math workbooks the following years and you have work for all your kids. Just pull out the pages one at a time and give them to your child with a write & wipe marker or crayon. Then, when your child is finished and the work has been gone over, you can easily put it back in. You may want to take a Sharpie and number the pages in the order you want them. That way if more than one child has a worksheet, you can easily remember where they belong. 2. Take some relaxing time for yourself each day. If your kids nap, instead of cleaning during their nap, you could take a soak in the tub, curl up with a book, or do something else you enjoy. Your relaxing time may come after the kids are asleep, but be sure to take it. Even five minutes of locking yourself in the bathroom and praying can go a long way. 3. Plan ahead. If you try to do the assignments as they come, this can stress you out. I recommend taking a weekend to plan a month or so of assignments. That way you can easily give the assignments to your child/ren when it's time. 4. Organize each subject for each child. Each child should have a folder for each subject. The assignments should be placed in those folders in order of when they are to be completed. Even though some assignments won't have a worksheet, there should be instructions for each assignment (even if it's just reading). All assignments should have a date on them. You can even stick the write&wipe sheets in the folders, too. This makes the day run much smoother. 5. Never ignore a question your child asks. If you don't know the answer, don't stress. Just look it up. 6. Use different methods for teaching (chalkboard and lecture, books, games, worksheets, drawing, writing...). That way your child/ren won't get bored and they will also learn many different methods for solving problems. 7. Have Fun!*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterAs homeschool becomes more popular and widespread, there are many questions that people ask. As a mom who has educated her children at home, as well as enrolled them in traditional school, I have been asked a fair share of questions regarding educational methods at home. With more people homeschooling, some people may wonder if groups of homeschoolers should buy big buildings together. In fact, when a group of readers were asked for back to school concerns,theBarefoot asked this very question. So, why don't homeschool parents form a school together? There are many answers to that question.Social Interaction With the Outside WorldContrary to what some may believe, social interaction is very important to most parents of children who attend school at home. The ability for kids to interact with the outside world during the day, rather than being restricted to a building is one reason that using a traditional school building may not appeal to some homeschooling families. It can provide a great opportunity for children to socially interact with kids their age, as well as a variety of age groups. This type of outside world interaction could be a great preparation for when kids graduate and get out into the "real world."Differences in Curriculum and Learning StylesOne of the main benefits to homeschool is the ability to choose or develop a custom curriculum plan for each child, based on his or her needs. Not all homeschooled kids will be using the same curriculum. For this reason, it may be more difficult to hold school in a building in a traditional class setting. Since everyone may not be using the same plan or methods, parents and other teachers might all be talking at once. This could be a very distracting and confusing learning environment that may even hinder the educational process.Flexible Learning EnvironmentSome homeschool parents choose this form of education because of the flexibility it provides. Children in a homeschool environment have the unique opportunity of being able to learn everywhere. Class does not necessarily have to be held behind four walls, sitting at a desk. Math and nutrition might be taught in a combination lesson at the local farmer's market, for instance. Of course, some learning will still be completed with paper, pencils, and books, but there is often more flexibility in a “home” learning environment. This flexibility could possibly be one reason some homeschool parents would choose not to hold school in a traditional school building.What About Homeschool Co-Ops?There actually are some homeschoolers who choose to learn together. This type of arrangement is often called a homeschool co-op. Usually in these arrangements, the classes are offered as a supplement to what the kids are already learning in homeschool. The classes are usually held only on certain days, still leaving room for the flexible learning environment that home school can provide. There also are homeschool co-ops in which a group of parents work together to form a teaching plan. In these type of arrangements, a parents who specializes in a certain area may have the opportunity to aid other students in that area.Which Method is Best?When deciding between public, private, or home school (or various homeschool options), the answer will differ for everyone. That's often why parents choose to homeschool. They likely have come to the conclusion that not all children have the same educational needs. What works for one child may not work for another. Education is about providing a child with the best learning opportunities possible. For the most information to be gained during learning, a child's individual needs, as well as the available options, should be taken into consideration.Note: A special thanks totheBarefoot for asking this question. He's a freelance writer and IT expert who writes about a wide range of topics. His content subjects include politics, writing, news, relationships, and many more. Expect his work to be entertaining, informative, and engaging.RELATED:Back to Homeschool: Must-Have Accessories for Homeschoolers On the GoBack to Homeschool: Online vs Text CurriculumBack to Homeschool: Establishing a Routine*I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterThe year my daughters started high school was crazy. It was so hard to believe they were that age already. Like many moms out there, I was both excited and a ball of nerves. A combination of research and relaxation helped me get through the mommy jitters that occur when a child starts high school.Take a tour of the school. Sometimes the unknown is the scariest part about sending a child off to high school. Why not take a tour of the school beforehand to get an idea of what things will be like? Some schools offer this as part of the orientation process. Others may have it as an optional choice. Generally, you can call the school ahead of time to get information on their specific procedure. Taking your teen along for the tour is a good idea. Be sure it is understood where all the classes are. This helps avoid that lost feeling on the first day of school - one more reason to ease up on the mommy jitters.Read all you can about the high school. In addition to visiting the school, read up on their policies, history, and scheduling processes. Does your child have a career counselor available? What are the test scores? Who might be teaching your child and what are their credentials? What are former parents and students saying about the school? Hopefully, this info soothes some of the mommy jitters. If there are red flags, such as low test scores and all negative reviews, you may want to consider another high school.Have a mommy-daughter talk. By high school age, there are certain things your teen should know. Fill in the blanks with stories and anecdotes from when you were a teen. Your child may roll eyes, stomp off, or otherwise pretend to ignore your advice. But believe me, it's just a show. Your teen needs to know scenarios related to dating, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, and more. These topics may seem difficult. But they will be even more difficult if you have to deal with them in a more active way because you didn't warn your teen. Knowing that your teen is informed can also help clear some of the mommy nervousness centered around high school.Outline what you expect. Lay down those big bad rules and make sure your teen knows you intend to keep them. Focus on the what, how, and why. When you know that your child is informed, it's easier to avoid the nervous mom jitters. Teens may not always listen. But teens who know the rules and know them well, including consequences, may be less likely to cause their parents a reason for concern.Breathe. I mean it. Just relax, take a deep breath, hold it for a second, and let go. I know firsthand how stressful it can be letting your teen enter a whole new world. But it does neither you or your teen any good if you are all nervous and jittery. Moms like me may choose yoga as a form of relaxation. Another idea is to make some homemade beauty recipes with your teen. This activity works for boys and girls, depending on what beauty regimens you are using and what boys are comfortable with. Puzzles are also another way the whole family can de-jitterize themselves. No matter the activity, choose something that fits your family's lifestyle and will help calm your nerves.More from Lyn:Back to School: Must-Have Accessories for TeensShould All Schools Go Back to Mixing Age Groups?Save Time and Frustration When Getting Kids Ready for School*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterHomeschoolers on the go need to always have certain items on hand. But do you know what they are? If your homeschooling family is on the go like ours, it will make learning so much easier if you keep certain materials around. Whether you need materials to save the lesson for later, study while on the move, or create memories, my family's experiences may help.A compact digital camera and camcorder adds to the lesson. Kids who are encouraged to film and take pictures of specific items and lessons can get a double lesson. It also serves as a great memory for later. We like to take pictures of the nature we view, places we go, as well as just fun moments that we have. This helps us recall the lessons we learned together as a homeschooling family. But it also gives us great family memories. Sometimes lessons happen when you least expect them. Always having a camera ready can help you capture those moments.Never forget your library card at home. Even if you hadn't planned a trip to the library, it can come up at a moment's notice. Homeschoolers on the go often learn right at the library. But how many times have you been on a homeschool excursion and need to get a book to accent what you've learned? What if the library is closer to you than your house? Do you really want to go all the way back home, just for a library card? Never forget library cards for all family members. One trick I like to use is to place the library card (and other important cards) on an I.D. necklace or bracelet. This way, it's less difficult for everyone to forget theirs.Collection slides and dishes are a must. Homeschool outings to the lake or pond can produce some interesting results. The same can even be said for a drainage ditch, walking trail, and even just a city walk to the store. Specimen dishes and collection slides come in handy in many instances. Homeschoolers on the go should never leave home without them. Collecting specimens is just one more way of being able to continue the lesson at home. If you have a microscope, they come in handy even more. We've collected bugs, leaves, moss, pond water, and more all because we had some type of collection dish with us. Nature happens all around us.A small laptop serves several purposes. Need a place to take notes? Perhaps you just showed the kids a certain dinosaur and need some follow up questions or activities? We've used the laptop to watch educational movies, research something relevant to the day's studies, and even to take notes. All of the above and more contribute to laptop being a must-have for homeschoolers on the go. Smaller notebook computers may be better than the full-sized versions, as they are more compact for easier traveling. Look for thinner, lightweight models, if you don't already have a small computer to use.A fully charged cell phone keeps you prepared. Ever get lost on the way to a homeschool field trip? Don't have GPS? No problem. A charged cell phone that has Internet capabilities can help. Cell phones with GPS or even capabilities to visit Yahoo! or Google maps can be used to tell people where you are, as well as lead you to your destination. Then, of course, depending on where you are going, you may need to call and talk to that company. On the less cheery side of things, cell phones also come in handy if something goes wrong. Cell phones with cameras will also eliminate the need for a separate camera.RELATED:Back toHomeschool: Establishing a RoutineGym Class Activities for HomeschoolBack to Homeschool: Online vs Text Curriculum*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:http://web.archive.org/web/20130518063357/http://shine.yahoo.com/back-homeschool-must-accessories-homeschoolers-200500783.html

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterWhen choosing a child's curriculum, you first want to be sure that it will suit the child's needs and meet requirements. There are many methods to consider. Once you have narrowed it down, you might find yourself deciding between an online curriculum and a textbook curriculum. There's not really a one size fits all solution when it comes to education. Each family's needs will differ significantly. So how do you know which is best for your child? In my years of experience as a homeschool teacher, I've had to make this decision several times with more than one child.Which study habits are most effective for your child? Does your child learn better from a book, games, or other methods? When choosing between an online and textbook curriculum, consider the methods that apply with each. Whichever one more closely resembles your child's learning style is likely going to be the most effective. If your child learns best from hearing instruction and the instructions are mostly from books, it will be more difficult for your child to learn. If your child has unique learning needs (such as vision issues or disabilities) examine each method and figure out which one works the best in those circumstances.Which program lines up with your family's lifestyle? Is your family always on the go? If so, a textbook curriculum may be best because it's easy to transport. Then again, if your child has a laptop and does well learning on the computer, the online curriculum may be better. Do you like to give lessons in the library? Will an online curriculum work with that? For instance, the child may need to wear earphones so as not to disturb others in the library. Will you still be able to instruct that way? There are many possible scenarios and answers. Consider what your family will be doing on a daily basis to help you come to a decision.Does your first choice line up with state standards? Each state has specific standards that need to be met when it comes to curriculum. Make sure that the method you choose lines up with those. If it doesn't, can you commit to supplementing what's missing? It's important that your child gets a proper education and if an online or textbook curriculum doesn't do that, it's time to reevaluate your choices. Our family prefers to use mostly an online course. But we also supplement with other learning materials, field trips, and hands-on lessons.Which choice will be more enjoyable for your child? While education is first and foremost, it's also important to be sure your child will enjoy doing schoolwork. If there is some fun mixed in with the work, a child is more likely to learn. On the other hand, if the work is boring or too laborious, the child may hesitate and actually learn less even if the program offers exemplary information. The material is no good when a child is resistant to looking at it. A child will learn more during an hour of time where there's interest than during eight hours of disinterest.Should you blend the two? If you can see benefits to both choices, perhaps a blend of the two will work well for you. Some kids learn better when they get to mix things up here and there. If your child gets bored easily, switching back and forth from textbook to computer could be the answer. If your child is the opposite and likes things to stay the same and be more structured, it may be best to choose one or the other. Does your child pitch a fit when things change? Do you hear "Mommy, I'm bored" all too often? Even if you don't have educational situations to compare, besides homework time, think about your child's reactions to everyday situations.RELATED:Back toHomeschool: Establishing a RoutineGym Class Activities for HomeschoolHomeschool FAQ: Common Myths & Questions* I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:http://web.archive.org/web/20120708235911/http://voices.yahoo.com/back-home-school-online-vs-textbook-8668313.html?cat=25

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff WriterBack to school time! The fall season brings on new challenges for homeschooled kids, as well as those in a more traditional school setting. It's your family's first year homeschooling and you need to establish a routine. Having experienced the beginning-of-the-year dread several times over, I've learned a thing or two. When you have a basic plan, most things just fall into place as they come. Establishing a routine from the beginning makes each homeschool day much less stressful. If your children throughout the summer, like mine do, then you may already have a taste of what the school year will be like.Figure out your family's learning style. Will your family be educated primarily at home or will you be on the go? Is unschooling right for you? Montessori, classic, or eclectic? Will you be taking field trips a couple times per year or daily? We like to integrate field trips into lessons where possible. Decide what your family's main homeschool style will be as well as how and where it will be implemented. Use this information to establish your routine by working together. It's much easier to stay on track when you have an idea of the general direction you want to take things.Consider your existing family schedule. Do the kids participate in dance, karate, basketball, piano, or other extracurricular activities? If so, then you'll need to remember to work that schedule into your homeschool schedule. Prioritize all of the existing activities, chores, and jobs. Is there anything in the existing schedule that can be rearranged or eliminated if necessary? I find it helpful to number each schedule item in order of importance. That way, if something needs to be changed, I can easily see what to start rotating or eliminating first.Have a family meeting. This is an absolute must to get everyone on the same page. Establish the routine by discussing goals, expectations, scheduling, and more. Give everyone a chance to speak and ask questions so that nothing is left unsaid. It's easier to establish your homeschool routine when it's clear what everyone wants and needs. Take everyone's thoughts into consideration before finalizing anything. While you may not be able to give Johnny that wish of 169 recess days and one school day for the year, you can probably make sure he gets to ride his bike for recess a few times per week.Make a schedule. It's important to do this during the family meeting so that everyone has input, as far as what's scheduled. It's also essential establishing a routine. If everyone knows how things will be from the beginning, the day to day process will run more smoothly. Be sure to allow time for getting to any destinations outside the home when creating the schedule. For instance, if one child needs to be at soccer practice at 2 p.m, be sure to allow time in between the previous class and getting to the soccer field. Remember that your schedule can be more flexible than in a traditional classroom. If necessary, schoolwork can resume after the soccer practice.Be clear and consistent about what's expected. Talk about how the schedule will work, as well as what each person is expected to do. Every family member should know the overall learning style and methods being implemented. It should be clear that if you choose unschooling the eclectic way, everyone should stick to that. Unschooling is a bit more flexible, as far as establishing a routine. But rules do need to be laid out, such as the fact that even if the operational mood is relaxed, learning should still be taking place.RELATED:Back to School: Laying Ground Behavioral RulesGym Class Activities for HomeschoolHomeschool FAQ: Common Myths & Questions*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:http://web.archive.org/web/20140806195145/http://shine.yahoo.com/back-homeschool-establishing-routine-190300503.html

Gym is a subject many people struggle with during homeschooling. It is often assumed that gym cannot be done without having many students, so some people choose to just let their children play outside for gym. Playing outside is great exercise, but children should learn other active movements as well. Here is a list of good physical activities for homeschool. Families who are homeschooling will benefit from these, but they are also great ideas for playing outside with the kids in general, especially on the weekends.

Hold a neighborhood sports day

Pick a flexible day of the week where people in the neighborhood can get together all the time and play the sport of the month together. Find a large park in your area to do this. Hand out and post fliers at local schools, churches, and libraries (wherever permitted). Start going to the location at that time every week. Keep handing out the fliers if not too many people show up the first week. Before you know it, there will be a large amount of kids participating. The people in this group will also become friends, so you have just found a group of people you can organize other fun events with for social activities.

Make Your Own Tetherball

Do you have a pole in your backyard that was originally used for something else? If it's wooden, stick a strong hook in it, attach a chain to the hook, then attach a tetherball (check sports stores or chain discount retailers). If you can't find a tetherball, volleyballs also work great for it. Just make sure you are able to attach a hook to whatever ball you use without deflating it. If your pole is metal and does not have a hook at the top, you will either have to drill a hole for a hook or weld a hook onto it. To make the game from scratch, just insert your own pole into the ground and then follow the same instructions. Simple activities can be rotated often for variety

Bike riding - Find a bike trail or large park in your area where everyone in the family can participate. Look for anything with paths that kids can ride on easily. Paved paths are easiest, but not necessary.

Sporting practice - Practicing the rules and techniques of sports can be done without a large group of people. Most sports games can also be changed a bit, in order to play with only a small amount of people. For instance, with basketball, you can simply shoot hoops. Homeschool group activities - Join a homeschool group and participate in the active get-togethers. This could range from playing at the park, to organized competitive sports, co-op physical ed classes, and more.

Sports Leagues - Put your kids on a sports league or team of their choice. This could include soccer, football, softball, dance, gymnastics, basketball, and more.

Join a kid-friendly gym - Sign your kids up for classes like kids yoga, swimming, or kids kickboxing. Research the gyms in your area for specific types of classes that your kids will enjoy.

Swim for fun - If you have access to a pool, take the kids swimming every other day. This could be an indoor or outdoor pool. For outdoor pools, make sure the weather is appropriate and everyone wears sunscreen and protective clothing.

Good old-fashioned games - Red Rover, Tag, Simon Says, Mother May I, and other such games can be fun and physically challenging. The kids may not even realize they are getting a workout.

Four-Square - All you need for this is a piece of chalk, rules for playing four-square, and a rubber ball. Draw a square with a plus sign in the middle to split it into four squares. Unused driveways or garages are good for this. If you have neither, but have a yard, cement a section off for this. The cemented section can also be used for basketball and tetherball.

Weekly field day events - Invite all the neighborhood kids and do the same thing as the neighborhood sports day, but instead, do field day. You can choose one or both.Simply stay active The actual activity is less important than the fact that you are doing something active as a family every single day. Make sure that whatever you choose, your children are active every day, based on the doctor's orders. Also, don't forget the health & nutrition part of physical education. Always check with your child's pediatrician before stopping or starting any physical regimen.

If you're thinking about or have decided to homeschool, you likely are wondering about homeschool laws. What are the legalities and where can information be found? Each state in the US has a different set of rules. The following information should help guide you toward the most current information.

One place to learn about homeschool laws is through your state's education department. When people think of the Department of Education, they may not necessarily be thinking about homeschool. But this agency should have access to the most current information regarding homeschool.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) also can be extremely helpful when it comes to learning about homeschool laws. They even have a state by state breakdown of the legal options. In addition, they also can be very supportive to homeschool families who have been legally wronged.

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Lyn Lomasi & Richard Rowell are life & business partners. Owners of the Write W.A.V.E. Media network, they are your content superheroes to the rescue! Running their network, tackling deadlines single handedly, and coaching fellow writers & entrepreneurs to be thought leaders is the-ir top priority. While rescuing civilians from boring content and marketing, they conquer the world, living the RV life and making Crafts For A Purpose with their awesomely crazy family while recounting The Nova Skye Story, along with Kymani’s Travels. They also strive to one day cuddle with lions and giraffes. Until then, they’ll settle for furry rescue kitties and doggies.